Get to know the cast of 'Star Wars: Episode VII'

Thursday

May 1, 2014 at 6:18 PM

The announcement of the new cast for "Star Wars: Episode VII" has people excited and wondering who these actors are. Here's a breakdown of who the newcomers to the franchise are and what they bring to the table.

John Clyde

ENDOR - The announcement of the new cast for "Star Wars: Episode VII" has people excited and wondering who these actors are. Well, don't fret because we've got you covered.
Here's a breakdown of who the newcomers to the franchise are and what they bring to the table.
John Boyega
Boyega is a 22-year-old actor from London who burst onto the scene in 2011's quirky and funny "Attack the Block" and has been gaining steam ever since.
You'll get another chance to see him in the new season of "24."
Daisy Ridley
The young British actress Daisy Ridley is fairly unknown and has only a few credits to her name, almost all of them in television.
Before the casting announcement, no one really knew who Ridley was, but now her name is all over the Internet with speculation as to whether she'll be Han and Leia's daughter in the new film.
Adam Driver
Driver is a 30-year-old actor from San Diego and his star had been rising over the last year or so.
Driver had a small role in the 2011 Clint Eastwood film "J. Edgar" and gained popularity with his recurring role on the HBO series "Girls."
It was announced in February that Driver would play a villain in "Star Wars: Episode VII" and you should get used to seeing this guy's mug.
In addition to the new "Star Wars" flick, Driver is also set to appear in "Midnight Special" alongside Michael Shannon and Joel Edgerton as well as "While We're Young" with Ben Stiller, Naomi Watts and Amanda Seyfried.
Driver has also been cast in "Silence," Martin Scorsese's new film, which also stars Andrew Garfield, Liam Neeson and Ken Watanabe.
Andy Serkis
You may not recognize Andy Serkis' name or even his face, but you know his work.
Serkis is best known for his motion-capture roles as Gollum in "The Lord of the Rings" series as well as King Kong in "King Kong."
Serkis also starred in "The Adventures of Tintin," The Prestige," and "Rise of the Planet of the Apes."
It's still not known if Serkis has a part in a motion-capture capacity like Gollum, or if he's going to actually get himself some screen time like in "The Prestige."
Oscar Isaac
Isaac is a 34-year-old actor originally born in Guatemala and raised in Miami.
Isaac has been working since 1996 and consistently since 2006.
Some of his bigger credits include "The Nativity Story," "Robin Hood," "Sucker Punch," "Drive," "The Bourne Legacy" and "Inside Llewyn Davis."
Isaac is a proven performer and received accolades for his performance in "Inside Llewyn Davis."
Domhnall Gleeson
You may not recognize Domhnall Gleeson's name, but maybe you'd recognize him if I told you he's the older brother of Ron Weasley.
Gleeson is best recognized for his role in the last two "Harry Potter" films as Bill Weasley, but Gleeson has more credits than just that.
The son of famous actor Brendan Gleeson also had a small role in "True Grit" and starred alongside Rachel McAdams in 2013's "About Time."
You will also be able to see Gleeson in "Unbroken" this Christmas. The film tells the true story of a former Olympic runner who spent years in a Japanese prisoner of war camp during World War II.
Max von Sydow
Max von Sydow is certainly the best-known addition to "Star Wars: Episode VII" and he helps bring a level of talent and credibility to the film that few other actors could.
Sydow is a two-time Academy Award nominated actor who has starred in huge films like "The Exorcist," "Minority Report," "Awakenings," "Hannah and Her Sisters" and "Shutter Island."
It's still unknown what role the 85-year-old actor will play, but many are speculating he will play the part of a sith lord, possibly to Adam Driver's character. If that's the case, I'm all in.
There you go, an introduction to the cast of "Star Wars: Episode VII." Of course, these actors are in addition to returning players Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Kenny Baker.
We thought you already had a pretty good idea who those actors were.
What do you think of the new cast? Are you excited about "Star Wars: Episode VII"?%3Cimg%20src%3D%22http%3A//beacon.deseretconnect.com/beacon.gif%3Fcid%3D167273%26pid%3D46%22%20/%3E